Covering The Spread: Why Mike Leach and The Spread Are Wrong For Tennessee

Texas Tech fans are probably feeling a little down after last night's shellacking against the resurgent Oklahoma Sooners.

But I say they should smile, because if last night's game was not a warning sign to Mike Hamilton, I do not know what would be. Therefore, last night's game was good for the Red Raiders, showing Rocky Top that this offense is not infallible, and maybe the Red Raiders will have their coach.

More importantly, for me at least, it means that his pass oriented spread will not be coming this way. Which, believe it or not Tennessee fans, is actually a good thing. Yes, I know our offense is abysmal, and something drastic needs to be done about it. But the Bruce Pearl effect isn't going to save our football program.

Let me elaborate. Bruce Pearl has energized our men's basketball program, and taken it to new heights by bringing in a fast-paced, high-scoring offense and a choking press. But our men's basketball program lacked something our football program was swimming in.

An identity.

That identity is one consisting of running the ball and playing defense. Mike Leach is unfamiliar with these concepts.

You might say, "Oh, well this year they've run the ball well, and played well enough on defense to derail Texas," and that's all well and good. A good defense, however,  would not have let Joe Ganz tear them apart for 344 yards.

And how about this running game? Just twice before this season have the Red Raiders averaged more than 100 yards rushing over a season. And the have never rushed for 150 yards a game under Leach.

Why is this important, you ask? Just once in the last 50 years has Tennessee won an championship of any kind rushing for less than 170 yards per game. Mike Leach may be a offensive mastermind, but there are plenty of defensive masterminds in the SEC, and the best way to beat a good defense is by dominating them on the ground.

So who should coach Tennessee? That's another story for another article. But one thing is for sure, Mike Leach and Texas Tech are a great fit, and hopefully they'll be given a chance to progress.